Hey team! You know I always encourage being able to communicate visually in an intelligent way with what you wear, but as someone who writes for a living (certainly loves to talk more than anything else, as those of you who know me are well aware!), I believe it is equally important to be able to speak and write well. We practice what we preach, so enjoy reading pieces we put together about our Tweed Ride photo shoot below.

The following are the stories of three people
intimately involved with the Tweed Ride and the photo shoot it inspired. Katie
Warrenwas the producer and photographer of the shoot. Elise Peterson of It’s
Vintage Darling styled the shoot. Eric Channing Brewer is the founder of
Dandies & Quaintrelles.

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Katie Warren, Creative Director and Photographer: "This is not my photo shoot. It’s ours," was the first
notion I shared with our make up artist and models as they arrived to the third
floor of Smith Commons. "Approach this like a child about to play
dress-up," I announced. Warm introductions were made before I
directed each of them to immerse themselves in the beautiful, glittering
vintage set about. I encouraged them to find pieces they connected with
emotionally and said that Elise would style a look around their choices. This
is not the practice for your average photo shoot, but this, like many of
my shoots, is anything but average. In choosing who to invite, Elise and I
decided to unite a group of women who were beautiful, smart, talented and
with unique perspectives to contribute. We selected women with distinctive
senses of style, who present themselves with flair and a joy for how they live
their lives.

On this
brisk and pristine November day, we had a vintage dress-up party and created
stylish, romantic images that share how Washington women with truly distinctive
styles and skills can come together to create a unique scene. Over the next
several days, we will release photos and intimate portraits of the women we
chose, allowing Washingtonians to become inspired by their poise and
style. The images reveal passions and talents of everyone involved. For women
who live such stylish lives, what makes them truly admirable is their ability
and willingness to inspire and support one another.

Eric Brewer of Dandies & Quaintrelles: “The energy during the photo shoot at Smith Commons was a
pleasure to witness. People’s willingness to enjoy themselves and the company
of good friends while embracing vintage styles on an easy Sunday is what makes
the DC Tweed Ride such a hit. The ladies had a blast during the shoot and it
reminded me of past D&Q events.

We were also
excited to showcase the feel of Smith Commons as the venue for the 2011 DC
Tweed Ride Celebration. For folks who cannot take part in our vintage-themed
bike ride but want to help DC celebrate classic styles inspired by D&Q, the
after party at Smith Commons is the only place to be on Sunday.

Katie and I
met at an event that celebrated mid-century modern design in furniture and
architecture, and instantly
connected while discussing our perspectives on personal dress style. The Sunday
vintage shoot was a result of a conversation about the possibility of a new a
Tweed Ride style guide on the D&Q blog. Katie created an occasion that
produced photos meant not only to guide but to inspire. I'm very excited
with these images and we both are eager to share them!”

Elise Peterson,
Lead Stylist:"As
a vintage enthusiast, I was thrilled to take part in a project that embraces
the refined style that is quintessential to Dandies & Quaintrelles. I
wanted to stay true to the spirit of the Tweed Ride through iconic fashion,
while incorporating modern edgier touches. This "Nuevo-Tweed" was
brought to life by switching staple pieces such as tweed skirts with sexier
leather silhouettes. There was a strong emphasis on accentuating traditional
Quaintrelle ensembles with touches of fur in jackets, stoles, and collars. The
addition of bolder hardware such chunky metal rings and fabulously gaudy
earrings added finishing touches to perfectly Dandy duds. Nods of metallic and
sheer fabrics replaced traditional cotton blouses. Of course, the staple tweed
can be found in traditional pieces such as overcoats, hats, and pants. Overall,
I hope people continue to embrace the vintage feel that is synonymous with the
Tweed Ride while still creating unique fashion forward looks (and having
fun!)."

Tweed Ride is an opportunity for Washingtonians to
inspire one another through arresting visual sentiments that vary and touch
thousands every year. Just as the ladies of our shoot came together to make
something beautiful, so too can the people of our city. Come out to the Tweed
Ride and join the dialogue; show us your unique, stylish voice!

The main Tweed Ride route will be about 10 miles
and is mostly flat and downhill with a few short inclines. The shorter route
will be about 5 miles. We think that most everyone should be able to cover the
10 mile ride if they've dressed keeping both fashion and function in mind. The
starting point will be announced to registrants on Friday.